Kingsport man charged with murder in child’s death

KINGSPORT — A city man faces murder and other charges in the August death of a 4-year-old girl.

A Thursday morning press release from the Kingsport Police Department states Cody R. Webb, 28, of 286 Allenwood Lane, has been jailed in connection with the case since Aug. 24. At that time, he was charged with tampering with evidence and violation of probation.

Police report that on Wednesday, a Sullivan County grand jury indicted Allen on charges of first-degree murder, child neglect and child abuse. He has now been served a warrant on those charges and remains held on $250,000 bond.

On the Sunday morning of Aug. 5, patrol officers were called to a home in Colonial Heights, finding the deceased girl. KPD detectives launched a suspicious death investigation and the body was sent to the ETSU Quillen College of Medicine for an autopsy.

The incident was later classified as homicide. According to KPD Public Information Officer Tom Patton, the death has been “under constant investigation” since it occurred.

At this time, police are refusing to comment on specifics of the incident — including the cause of death and Webb’s relationship with the child.

When the Times News published a follow-up report on the case in mid-September, police and Sullivan County District Attorney Gen. Barry Staubus were tight-lipped on its progress. They stated it remained under investigation and did not reveal that Webb was already behind bars for allegedly tampering with evidence.

The KPD’s Thursday release states: “Due to the extremely sensitive nature of this still open and active investigation, as well as the minor age of the decedent, absolutely no additional information can or will be released at this time.”